Wis. man, brother face abuse charges for spankings

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BLACK EARTH, Wis. (AP) — The head pastor at a Dane County church and his brother face child-abuse charges after being accused of using rods to spank children on the buttocks.

Prosecutors filed charges Friday against 53-year-old Philip Caminiti, the head pastor at Aleitheia Bible Church, and his brother, 45-year-old John Caminiti.

The Wisconsin State Journal quotes the criminal complaint as saying the brothers used rods to spank their own kids and children whose families are part of the church.

The men told investigators their actions were in accordance with biblical teachings.

Philip Caminiti faces eight charges of conspiracy to commit child abuse. John Caminiti is charged with four counts of child abuse and four counts of being party to the crime of causing mental harm to a child.

Online court records didn’t list attorneys for either man Saturday.

Information from: Wisconsin State Journal, http://www.madison.com/wsj